(CNN) -- In the hours before President Obama strode up to the podium to deliver his State of the Union Address, Bill Gates was quietly publishing his own thoughts for the year ahead. Well, he was doing it as quietly as Bill Gates does anything.

Local Economy in Action This Week

This is my collection of news, articles, interviews, videos, and other ideas that we've found related to Local Economy. It's a wide swath cut into the topic as we cover everything from permaculture, small farms, gardening, energy, politics, transportation, infrastructure, and other elements that make up a community and how it works economically.

We put these here in one place after weeding through the chaff. We provide what's interesting and pertinent while excluding purely promotional materials. You should feel confident when you click on one of these links that it won't lead you through some spammy, scammy, adventure before you get to the heart of the matter.

I thank you for tuning in and suggest that you subscribe to the topic so you'll get daily updates from us. Also, feel free to suggest content for inclusion.

RideScout co-founder Joseph Kopser would love if his transportation app were the last one you ever downloaded. Whereas most city transportation services offer their own app, RideScout collects all the services in a single interface.

The driver who hit a professional cycling team in Tucson last February has been sentenced to seven days in jail and two years probation. Rodney Kinkade, Jr.

Bill Palladino - MLUI's insight:

This makes me want to get on my bike and run a bunch of pick-up trucks off the road. Take that justice! No wait... the snow will do that for me tonight anyway. When was the last time you heard of a cyclist stuck in a ditch?

ReutersA new article by John Cawley in NBER Reporter, "The Economics of Obesity," poses an interesting question right at the top. Why study obesity like an economic problem, anyway?There are two broad answers.

(Phys.org) —The UK can celebrate the launch of its first electric bus routes, to swing into operation this month in Milton Keynes, where eight electric buses will be running, taking over a busy 'Number 7' 15-mile route, and covering two...

Michael Andersen: At long last, cycling is being supported by American business – not out of environmentalism but because it's delivering profit (Bike parking generates 3 times the amount of retail revenue than the same size car-parking

After record amounts of snow this year in Philadelphia, you could be excused for not wanting to see any more of it. But today's snow actually brought us some pretty cool ideas for public spaces and traffic safety improvements along E. Passyunk Avenue in South Philly.

Bill Palladino - MLUI's insight:

Love this. Works the same for sidewalks too. Look at sidewalks in the summer, then watch where pedestrians actually walk in the winter. Jeffersonian, rectilinear, architecture's downfall.

In the midst of the recession, millions of Americans began to "double up," in the language of demographers: Parents moved in with their children, recent college graduates returned home with their parents, unrelated families combined households,...

Bill Palladino - MLUI's insight:

I understand this concept. We've decided to stay in our current, smallish, home for strategic financial reasons. I get it.

All new developments should be required to discourage solo car trips, RAC says. (Bike-friendly sites a must - Yahoo!

Bill Palladino - MLUI's insight:

As much time as we spend on issues of zoning and planning for building code compliance, why not start building in transportation code too? This article from Australia gives us a clue just how forward thinking community planning can be.

The world can be divided into two kinds of drivers: Those that get over into a lane to exit or merge early (lineuppers) and those that zoom by until the last moment (sidezoomers), cutting the line in a sense.

Bill Palladino - MLUI's insight:

Just in case you wanted to make sure you got the front of the queue as you approached a "right lane ends" sign on the road.

VEGAS INCA clean slate to reinvent downtown Las VegasVEGAS INCDowntown is peppered with vacant lots, unlike many other major cities' urban centers, which are more fully developed.

Bill Palladino - MLUI's insight:

I've always appreciated the view of Las Vegas through the lens of Stephen King's book The Stand. Two people are representative of good and evil. Guess which city Mr. Evil chooses to call home? So if there's a town that needs reinvention, this is it.

Sharing your scoops to your social media accounts is a must to distribute your curated content. Not only will it drive traffic and leads through your content, but it will help show your expertise with your followers.

Integrating your curated content to your website or blog will allow you to increase your website visitors’ engagement, boost SEO and acquire new visitors. By redirecting your social media traffic to your website, Scoop.it will also help you generate more qualified traffic and leads from your curation work.

Distributing your curated content through a newsletter is a great way to nurture and engage your email subscribers will developing your traffic and visibility.
Creating engaging newsletters with your curated content is really easy.